Utah Supreme Court Upholds New Congressional Map
The Utah Supreme Court has upheld a new congressional map for the state's midterm elections, rejecting a Republican appeal that argued for more partisan-drawn boundaries. The decision is part of a national trend of courts intervening in partisan redistricting disputes.
- This ruling is the latest development in a legal battle that began after Utah voters passed Proposition 4 in 2018, an anti-gerrymandering measure that created an independent redistricting commission. The Republican-controlled legislature later repealed key provisions of the proposition and, in 2021, adopted a map that was accused of being a partisan gerrymander. - The lawsuit was brought by the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government, who argued the legislature's map illegally diluted the voting power of non-Republican voters, partly by splitting Salt Lake County among all four of the state's congressional districts. - The Utah Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the congressional map itself, but rather dismissed the legislature's appeal on procedural grounds, stating that it lacked jurisdiction because a final judgment had not been issued in the lower court. This decision leaves in place a lower court ruling by 3rd District Judge Dianna Gibson that had invalidated the legislature's map. - The upheld map, which was selected by Judge Gibson in November 2025, creates a Democratic-leaning district centered in Salt Lake County. This is a significant shift from the previous map, under which Republicans held all four of the state's U.S. House seats. - Key figures in the case include Chief Justice Matthew B. Durrant, who was part of the three-justice panel that dismissed the appeal, and Senate President Stuart Adams, who criticized the court's decision, stating it creates "chaos." - The upheld map will be in place for the 2026 midterm elections. However, the legal fight may not be over, as a separate federal lawsuit regarding the map is still pending. - In response to the court rulings, the Utah Republican Party is backing a ballot initiative to repeal Proposition 4, aiming to restore sole map-drawing authority to the legislature.
